I call my dad.
CHAPTER 31
Dominic
THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW
18 YEARS OLD
I’ve never been in the back of a police car. Can’t say I’m a fan.
“If you knew you were on private property, why were you there?” the officer asks, meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror.
I shrug, knowing whatever I say could make things worse.
Considering all things, the officer has been pretty decent. He wasn’t rough with me, he didn’t yell. It could’ve been worse. Much worse.
“You eighteen?” he asks.
“Yep, just turned eighteen, actually.”
He sighs, studying me for a moment before his eyes return to the road.
“I wasn’t trying to cause any trouble,” I say under my breath. “Just wanted to go somewhere quiet.”
He nods slowly. “Don’t stress too much, kid. It’s a minor offense, and you don’t look like a troublemaker.”
Up until now, the worst thing I’ve ever done is get a tattoo before turning eighteen, which is nothing.
The rest of the drive is silent. All I can think about are the impacts this could have on my future. Suddenly, I’m wishing I had read the fine print on my scholarship. Something like this could go on my record and fuck up the rest of my life.
I knew we shouldn’t have been going there, but the house has sat abandoned for so long it seemed harmless. Now, it could be the one thing that ruins any chance I had at a decent future.
I’m so fucked.
We pull into the Clore County Detention Center.
I swallow, looking at the building, knowing it’s packed full of people locked up for a hell of a lot more than trespassing. It’s just now hitting me I could end up in a bad situation quickly if I’m not careful.
The officer turns off the ignition but doesn’t move.
He twists in his seat to face me through the partition. “Here’s how it’s going to go. I’m going to take you to booking. You’ll fill out some paperwork, get your mugshot taken, you’ll be fingerprinted, and then they’ll search you. There’re a few more things after that, but that’s the gist of it. And try not to shit your pants, you’re not going to be placed in a holding cell with some hardened criminal. Probably a DUI case, if anything.”
I guess my expression made it pretty obvious how scared out of my mind I am.
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
He breathes out a laugh. “Because you’re just a kid and you’re shaking like a leaf.”
I didn’t realize I was shaking so badly, but when I look down at my knees, they’re trembling.
“Thanks,” I mutter.
He helps me out of the back, since it’s awkward with the handcuffs still on and escorts me through the front doors.
The second we get past the lobby, I see a familiar face and freeze.
It’s Jack.
